Systems and methods for providing wireless account feature notifications to mobile communication devices
View Patent ↗Systems and methods for providing wireless account calling feature indications to a device are described. Feature indications are provided to inform a user of the device that an incoming call or outgoing call is eligible for an account calling feature based on whether the conditions for the calling feature to apply are currently met. The feature indications are provided to a display of the device and/or to a speaker of the device.
1. A device, comprising:
a processor;
a memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon non-transitory computer-readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining whether a feature is applicable to a network service provided to the device, the network service comprising a communication service, and the feature comprising a usage of the communication service for communication between a plurality of devices associated with a group of accounts, the determining including:
searching a database for an entry corresponding to the network service; and
responsive to finding the entry, checking a flag associated with the entry to determine whether the usage of the communication service is by devices associated with the group; and
responsive to determining that the usage of the communication service is associated with the group, communicating an indication to the device that the feature applies to the network service.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication service comprises messaging, and the usage of the communication service comprises free use of airtime for messaging between the plurality of devices associated with the group.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the free use of airtime for messaging applies during a specified time period.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication service comprises data transfer, and the usage of the communication service comprises free use of airtime for data transfer between the plurality of devices associated with the group.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein free use of airtime for data transfer applies during a specified time period.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the communication service comprises video services, and the usage of the communication service comprises free use of airtime for video services for the plurality of devices associated with the group.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the free use of airtime for video services applies during a specified time period.
8. A method, comprising:
receiving a request from a first device to initiate communication with a second device over a network, wherein the request identifies a network service to be provided to the first device, a first account associated with the first device, and a second account associated with the second device;
determining, by a processor, based on the request, whether the first account and the second account are members of a group of accounts, wherein accounts from among the group of accounts are not charged for airtime for communications between devices associated with the members of the group of accounts;
responsive to determining that the first account and the second account are members of the group of accounts, determining, by the processor, whether a feature applies to the network; and
responsive to determining that the feature applies to the network service, transmitting a feature indication to the first device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises messaging, and the feature comprises free messaging between the first device and the second device via the network.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises data transfer, and the feature comprises free data transfer between the first device and the second device via the network.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises video services, and the feature comprises free usage of video services for communications between the first device and the second device via the network.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises messaging, and the feature comprises free messaging during a specified time period.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises data transfer, and the feature comprises free data transfer during a specified time period.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network service comprises video services, and the feature comprises free usage of video services during a specified time period.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
determining whether a user account feature is applicable to a network service provided to a wireless communications device, wherein the network service comprises a data communication, and the user account feature comprises free use of airtime for data communications between communication devices associated with user accounts belonging to an affinity group, the determining including:
searching an address book for an entry corresponding to the data communication;
responsive to finding the entry corresponding to the data communication, checking an affinity group flag of the entry to determine whether the data communication is between communication devices associated with the user accounts belonging to the affinity group; and
responsive to determining that the data communication is between communication devices associated with the user accounts belonging to the affinity group, communicating a feature indication, prior to the data communication being established, for notifying a user of the wireless communication device that the user account feature applies to the network service provided to the wireless communications device.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the data communication comprises messaging, and the free use of airtime for data communications comprises free use of airtime for messaging between the communication devices associated with the user accounts belonging to the affinity group.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the free use of airtime for messaging applies during a specified time period.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the data communication comprises data transfer, and the free use of airtime for data communications comprises free use of airtime for data transfer between the communication devices associated with the user accounts belonging to the affinity group.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the free use of airtime for data transfer applies during a specified time period.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the data communication comprises video services, and the free use of airtime for data communications comprises free use of airtime for video services for the communication devices associated with the user accounts belonging to the affinity group during a specified time period.